[KS] The University of Michigan Library’s Acquisition of a New Digital Collection: Radio Free Asia (RFA) Korean-Language Broadcasts

[Yunah Sung]

Dear all,

We are pleased to announce that the University of Michigan (U-M) Library
<https://www.lib.umich.edu/> has acquired a significant collection of
Korean-language radio broadcasts from Radio Free Asia
<https://www.rfa.org/english/> (RFA; 자유아시아방송), a news outlet dedicated to
reaching audiences in North Korea. Following the discontinuation of federal
funding and the subsequent closure of RFA’s Korean service in 2025, the
Asia Library at U-M undertook a collaborative project to preserve this
collection and make these invaluable digital materials accessible for
future research.

This unique collection includes nearly three decades of award-winning radio
programs (1998–2025), featuring news, interviews, and stories on daily life
and human rights in North Korea, as well as the journeys of refugees. These
broadcasts have received major journalism awards in recognition of their
coverage.

For scholars interested in the study of the Korean Peninsula, this
collection offers crucial insights into North Korea’s society, politics,
and culture. By making these broadcasts publicly accessible, we will
empower new research in fields such as history, sociology, international
relations, and human rights.

For more details, please refer to the Asia Library blog post
<https://blogs.lib.umich.edu/notes-asia-library/radio-free-asia-korean-service-finds-new-home-u-m-library>.
Stay tuned for updates on public access to the RFA Korean Service program
collection in the near future. For questions, please contact the U-M Korean
Studies Librarian at ask-korea at umich.edu.

Best,

Yunah

********************

Yunah Sung <https://guides.lib.umich.edu/koreanstudies>

Korean Studies Librarian / Project Manager
Asia Library, University of Michigan
414 Hatcher Graduate Library North
Ann Arbor, MI  48109-1190
yunahs at umich.edu
*Make an appointment* <https://umich.libcal.com/appointments/yunahs>
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